For the game against Southampton at The Dell we fielded a young team, which included several players who normally play in our South East Counties League side. We took the lead after 20 minutes, through Malcolm McPherson who was playing his first game following a pre-season ankle injury, after a pass from Darren Currie. We contrived to play well, maintaining our advantage until the interval. McPherson had been unlucky early on when he had an effort cleared off the line. A similar fate befell Matt Holland who had flicked on a Jamie Victory corner after 30 minutes.

Following the break our luck was still out when a Holland volley crashed back off the crossbar from 25 yards with just under an hour's play gone. Within five minutes the Saints equalised as some slack defensive marking allowed them a chance in our box. A Southampton corner in the last 15 minutes was knocked down by central defender Ken Monkou and the ball was forced in to edge the home side in front.

As we tired against stronger opposition, goalkeeper Jerome John had to make two good saves to deny the South Coast side a bigger margin, while up front we were unable to penetrate a forceful rearguard.

John

Blaney

Holland

Victory

Browne

Williamson

Pratt (Mullen)

Mitchell

Boere

McPherson (Moors)

Currie

The Dell

1 - 2 (McPherson)

27 August 1994

We travelled to the New Den with a much stronger side for a fixture with Millwall. In a good all-round performance we created several excellent chances against a line-up that included ex-Hammer Clive Allen, Pat van den Hauwe and Ronnie Whelan (ex-Liverpool). After six minutes play Lee Chapman had a header from a Keith Rowland cross pushed onto a post by the Lions' 'keeper. Jeroen Boere was also unlucky with another header from a Paul Mitchell centre. Chapman was finally rewarded for his efforts when a deep cross from Mitchell resulted in him sending a clever looped header over the goalkeeper. Millwall then suffered the loss of their two central defenders while we lost the services of Keith Rowland with a cut shin which required stitching. Immediately on taking Rowland's place as a substitute Jamie Victory was involved in our second goal when he fed Kenny Brown who cut inside and found Jeroen Boere. His header was chested down by Danny Williamson whose right foot volley found the back of the net. After the interval the Lions started a bit brighter but once again we came into the game when another Brown cross found Williamson who shot against the post. On 66 minutes we increased our lead further when a short corner from Ian Bishop was headed on by Chapman and Victory arrived at the back post to head home. With two minutes to go Victory was sent off for a second bookable offence and completed a memorable afternoon when arriving back in the dressing room he had to have a cut below his eye stitched.

Feuer

Mitchell

Rowland (Victory)

Brown

Whitbread

Williamson

Rush

Bishop

Boere

Chapman

Holland

New Den

3 - 0 (Chapman, Victory, Williamson)

1 September 1994

Yate Town FC, Lodge Road

4 - 1 (Boere, Marsh, Moncur, Williamson)

22 August 1994

The visit to Stamford Bridge was always going to be difficult. With a home tie in the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup the same evening and a visit to Walsall in the Coca Cola Cup the following night, our resources were stretched to say the least. In the event, former youth team midfielder Jason Geraghty returned to the side alongside former Barnet striker Kelly Haag, who was being given a trial. Reserve team manager Paul Hilton even named himself in the line-up as substitute. Chelsea, undefeated so far this season, fielded a strong team, with many players having had first team experience.

By half-time the Blues were leading 3-0 and although we tightened up our defence in the second-half they scored again to give them a convincing victory. That was the first time in over a year the reserves had conceded four goals in the Combination game.

Nine days after the Chelsea defeat we had another away fixture at Charlton Athletic. The South Londoners had the better of the play early on and only fine saves by goalkeeper Ian Feuer keep the score level. But Hammers went ahead in the 28th minute when a Danny Williamson cross from the left to Manny Qmoyinmi at the far post his header was put into the corner of the net by David Pratt. Four minutes later, Charlton equalised through striker Kim Grant. A minute into the second-half West Ham regained the lead when a shot from Pratt hit the crossbar and rebounded back to Steve Jones who headed home. Charlton then had a goal disallowed for offside before drawing level thanks a rather dubious penalty.

Hammers took the lead for a third time in the 76th minute when a corner from the left was headed back across goal by triallist Glen Thomas to Chris Moors who headed past the Charlton 'keeper. Charlton had another goal disallowed when the referee adjudged the ball to have been handled.

That 3-2 victory made West Ham joint leaders of the League with Crystal Palace and Charlton.

The visit to Crystal Palace was our sixth consecutive London derby and our second successive defeat. Palace fielded a strong team with several players in their lineup who had appeared at Upton Park just over a week earlier for our FA Carling Premiership match. However, we also had an experienced squad on duty and welcomed the return of Malcolm McPherson after injury. A disappointing team performance saw us a goal down after 20 minutes when Jamie Victory pulled down Bruce Dyer on his approach to goal. Later in the half, Dyer hit a post then Victory made amends for his earlier error of judgement when he cleared another Palace goal-worthy effort at the post. Hammers were lucky to be just one goal down at half-time. The Eagles were so superior they could have been four of five goals ahead. During the whole of the first-half, West Ham did not manage one shot on target such was the oneway traffic that was being exerted by Crystal Palace. We did not seem capable of putting anything together in our endeavours to break the deadlock and get back on the offensive. The second-half saw our 'keeper Ian Feuer again called upon to make several good saves before Matt Holland did managed to move upfield in the 62nd minute and go close with a good shot on target. Immediately, Palace returned to the attack and during one skirmish Kenny Brown became one of four players booked in the match by a somewhat over zealous referee. With seven minutes of the match remaining, Brown was given his marching orders following a second bookable offence to complete a very unhappy afternoon for the Hammers. With five minutes before the final whistle, Feuer was once again called into action to deny Palace a deserved second goal when he saved a powerful shot from their right-back.

After two consecutive defeats, including our poor performance against Crystal Palace, the Reserves turned in a much-improved display against QPR at Harrow Borough on Monday 24th October to earn a well-deserved point. In a good, open game between well-matched sides, the Hammers survived a couple of early scares before hitting back to create some chances that just failed to materialise into goals. In the 17th minute a David Pratt volley across the face of the home penalty-area saw Malcolm McPherson just fail to make contact as he dived full length. Strong shots from Mattie Holmes and Matt Holland were then well-saved by the Rangers' 'keeper while at the other end Ian Feuer did well to turn a fierce drive behind for a corner. Three minutes into the second-half, McPherson suffered an ankle injury who made an immediate impact. Within four minutes he had put West Ham into the lead. A short goal-kick from the home 'keeper reached a defender whose attempted pass went astray and the alert Shipp seized possession to score. Midway through the half, chances were created by both sides; the best of which resulted in Adrian Whitbread having to block a Rangers' shot on the goal-line. With ten minutes left, QPR equalised. In the final minutes both teams had a chance to snatch victory. A Rangers defender headed just wide and at the other end Keith Rowland and Jeroen Boere combined to set up Danny Shipp. but the young striker just failed to score as the ball eluded his first touch. The draw was a fair reflection on the evening's play and at least stopped the Hammers' losing streak that saw us slide down the table.

For the second time in two days a Portsmouth team were the visitors to Upton Park. As in the previous night's Youth match, the Hammers took an early lead when after two minutes Trevor Morley scored with a well-taken goal. It was Trevor's first game since his injury in August. Despite this early set-back, Portsmouth began to play more impressively and created two good scoring chances in quick succession.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Matt Holland shot just wide from a Steven Blaney cross and Malcolm McPherson was narrowly off target after cutting in from the wing.

Five minutes before half-time Pompey equalised from a free-kick just outside our penalty-area. Then early in the second-half, Dale Gordon had a shot saved and then crossed for McPherson only to see his header well saved by the Pompey 'keeper.

The Hammers regained the lead in the 55th minute when a half-cleared corner was knocked back into the area by Scott Canham and Boere scored from eight yards.

With 20 minutes left, Pompey again drew level following a move down the left flank. With just two minutes left and a draw looking the inevitable result, Portsmouth snatched a dramatic winner when a defender ran 50 yards to score.

The Hammers again got off to a flying start with an early goal against Millwall at Upton Park. Direct from the kick-off, Mattie Holmes was brought down in full flight down the wing. Mattie touched the free-kick short to Keith Rowland who crossed for Dale Gordon to volley home. West Ham created more chances in the next half-an-hour, although the Lions had greater possession. Kenny Brown's cross was headed straight at the Millwall 'keeper by Boere and a couple of other good opportunities went just wide. With 40 minutes gone, Millwall equalised when a shot curled past Ian Feuer.

In the opening encounters in the second-half, Gordon had a shot well saved following a cross from Lee Chapman and then Danny Williamson went close with a 25 yarder.

Millwall edged infront on 60 minutes when a cross from the right was headed past Feuer. Within a minute the Hammers should have equalised, but the Millwall 'keeper made an outstanding double save from Lee Chapman and then from Boere's follow-up header.

Manager : Paul Hilton

Feuer

Brown

Rowland

Victory

Currie (Pratt)

Moncur (Moore)

Marsh

Holland

Boere

Mitchell

Williamson

John

Blaney

Holland

Browne

Victory

Williamson

Pratt (Moore)

Mitchell

Boere

Shipp

Hodges

Upton Park

1 - 0 (Shipp)

6 September 1994

Feuer

Mitchell

Brown

Victory

Whitbread

Williamson

Pratt

Bishop

Chapman

Jones

Holland

Upton Park

1 - 0 (Jones)

13 September 1994

Feuer

Williamson

Brown

Victory

Holland

Holmes

Pratt

Oakley

Haag

Jones

Geraghy

Stamford Bridge

0 - 4

19 September 1994

Feuer

Brown

Holland

Thomas

Whitbread

Bishop

Pratt

Butler

Moore

Jones

Williamson

Park View Road

3 - 2 (Jones, Moors, Pratt)

28 September 1994

Feuer

Blaney

Brown

Victory

Thomas

Joscelyne

Pratt

Holland

Moors (Shipp)

Reina

Holmes

Upton Park

0 - 0

4 October 1994

Feuer

Brown

Holland

Browne

Blaney

Williamson

Pratt (Hodges)

Bishop

Boere

Jones

Holmes

Upton Park

1 - 3 (Holmes)

11 October 1994

Feuer

Brown

Holland

Victory

Whitbread

Williamson

McPherson (Blaney)

Bishop

Boere (shipp)

Jones

Holmes

Plough Lane

0 - 1

18 October 1994

Feuer

Blaney

Rowland

Victory

Whitbread

Holland

Pratt

Lampard

Boere

McPherson (Shipp)

Holmes

Harrow Borough FC

1 - 1 (Shipp)

24 October 1994

John

Blaney

Holland

Browne

Victory (Omoyinmi)

Canham

Gordon

McPherson (Shipp)

Boere

Morley

Lampard

Upton Park

2 - 3 (Boere, Morley)

1 November 1994

Feuer

Brown

Rowland

Holland

Browne

Williamson

Gordon

Canham (Currie)

Chapman

Boere (McPherson)

Holmes

Upton Park

1 - 2 (Gordon)

8 November 1994

Feuer

Brown

Oakley

Browne

Holland

Williamson

Canham (Moors)

Hutchison

Chapman

Boere

Holmes

Ram Meadow

1 - 2 (Hutchison [pen]

16 November 1994

Feuer

Blaney

Rowland

Canham (Hodges)

Holland

Marsh

Pratt

Williamson

Boere

Shipp

Holmes

Upton Park

3 - 0 (Hodges, Marsh, Shipp)

22 November 1994

Sealey

Blaney

Oakley

Browne

Holland

McPherson (Shipp)

Williamson

Chapman

Currie

Lampard

Moors (Mullen)

Goldstone Ground

1 - 0 (Currie [pen])

30 November 1994

John

Breacker

Oakley

Browne

Holland

Marsh

Pratt (Hodges)

Williamson

Chapman

McPherson

Currie

Highbury

4 - 1 (McPherson 3, Chapman)

10 December 1994

Sealey

Brown

Holland

Rieper

Whitbread (Shipp)

Currie

Pratt

Lampard

Chapman

Morley

McPherson (Hodges)

Ashton Gate

2 - 1 (Morley, Pratt)

19 December 1994

SECOND-HALF

We began our home fixtures with a visit from Brighton & Hove Albion. We played quite well in the opening half hour without really threatening the visitors' goal although Jeroen Boere impressed, looking sharp and dominant in the air. Danny Williamson also looked strong on his runs from midfield and tested the 'Seagulls' goalkeeper with a 25-yarder following a corner which he did well to turn over the bar. Boere was unlucky when his header narrowly missed the target following a Steven Blaney cross.

The second half opened with Danny Shipp having a shot tipped over following a chest down by Boere. Paul Mitchell, who was also having a good game, then broke into the area and, after beating several defenders in a powerful surge forward down the right, crossed into the six-yard box only to see Shipp fail to make contact as he slid in at the far post. Shipp by this time was causing all sorts of problems to the visitors defence.

At the other end, Jerome John proved his worth with two good stops. The first, on the edge of his area denied the visitors in a one-on-one situation while for the second he made a full length diving save at the feet of an opposing forward when under great pressure.

With seven minutes to go Mitchell once again broke from the half way line and slipped a through ball down the middle for Shipp to run onto and Danny made no mistake with his right foot shot.

Seven days later Queens Park Rangers were the visitors, including Bradley Allen and new scoring sensation Kevin Gallen.

Neither side was able to dominate during the first half and things remained evenly balanced - with Ian Feuer making a good save to deny the visitors, while at the other end Steve Jones had a goal disallowed.

Thirteen minutes after the interval Jones cut back a centre to Danny Williamson who broke into the penalty area and struck a left foot shot which the QPR 'keeper dived full length to save. Jones was then unlucky as he curled his shot over the bar while the visitors went close on a couple of occasions forcing Feuer into full length saves.

David Pratt made several good runs down the right flank, one of which resulted in a centre which Lee Chapman just headed wide. After 71 minutes Jones was finally rewarded when his first shot was parried but he netted the rebound via the inside of the left hand post. A further effort from Chapman was again pushed out and Ian Bishop following up had his powerful shot cleared off the line by the joint efforts of the Rangers goalkeeper and a defender.

In the dying minutes Pratt had his left foot shot pushed away after cutting in from the right and then saw a right foot effort half stopped before being cleared off the line as Jones ran in.

After a run of nine games against London clubs, we travelled to Bury St. Edmunds on Wednesday 16th November to play against Ipswich Town.

Don Hutchison was included in the line-up in order to maintain his match-fitness prior to his impeding four-game suspension.

Mattie Holmes went close on two occasions early on, but neither side was able to take advantage of any opportunities created and the first-half remained goal-less.

Seven minutes into the second period Ian Feuer made a superb save as he turned away an Ipswich effort for a corner. He was unable to stop a shot from the centre that followed that corner-kick and Town went ahead.

After 65 minutes the Hammers drew level when Hutchison was brought down in the penalty-area and the midfielder netted from the resultant spot-kick.

A Danny Williamson cross saw Lee Chapman shoot just wide before Ipswich took the lead again when they scored with a 25 yard chip over Ian Feuer.

The visit of table-topping Charlton Athletic to Upton Park six days later saw a revival of the fortunes of our Second X1, following a period when they had only gained two points out of a possible 21.

In fact, it had been our South London rivals who had been our last victims some eight matches ago. The manner of our 3-0 victory was therefore especially pleasing as the team turned in an excellent performance.

After 30 minutes a Mike Marsh cross led to a Jeroen Boere header which went close. Then a Steven Blaney centre ended with Danny Shipp heading just over the bar. Hammers finally took the lead when a Boere shot rebounded to Marsh who scored after 38 minutes.

Within four minutes we scored a second when another Marsh cross rolled free; following a challenge between Boere and the visiting 'keeper, and Shipp was on hand to knock the ball into an empty net.

With 63 minutes gone, West Ham conceded a penalty, but the spot-kick was driven high and wide of Ian Feuer's right-hand post.

Two minutes later we scored our third and killer goal when Hodges broke down the wing, played a one-two with Matt Holmes and then cut inside to hit a right-foot shot into the net.

Due to the Coca-Cola Cup-tie the same evening and a growing injury list, the Hammers were forced to field a side containing five players who normally appear in our youth team. Another three youth players were on the substitute's bench. The Hammers started brightly enough with Chapman heading narrowly wide. Sealey made an impressive debut with a succession of fine saves.

After 22 minutes Matt Holland returned a clearance back into the Brighton half which stranded their defence. Malcolm McPherson collected the ball and ran on to round the home 'keeper, who brought the young striker down as he was about to score. Darren Currie scored from the penalty-spot.

Brighton immediately responded and Sealey had to make several excellent saves as our young defence came under increasing pressure.

The Seagulls continued to pile on the pressure in the second-half, but a resolute West Ham defence and the exploits of Les Sealey frustrated their efforts to draw level.

The nearest Brighton came to scoring was from a fierce shot that smashed against a post following a centre.

Our best chance of the half came in the 70th minute when McPherson clipped a ball in behind the home defence and Danny Williamson, running forward from a deep position, hammered his shot over the crossbar.

An evenly contested first-half saw the Gunners create the better chances with Jerome John called upon to make a couple of good saves.

Mike Marsh went close for the Hammers when his shot from 25 yards skimmed the Arsenal crossbar. The home side immediately hit back and after 30 minutes rattled the underside of our crossbar. Within two minutes of the restart, Marsh took a quick free-kick and released Malcolm McPherson down the right. The former Yeovil Town player's cross into the centre led to Lee Chapman challenging for the ball which broke to Darren Currie who scored from 12 yards. Six minutes later, Tim Breacker went down the right, cut inside and passed to Chapman who played a ball behind the Arsenal defence for Currie to run onto and loft over the advancing 'keeper. Goalkeeper John then made another fine save before setting up a move which led to David Pratt once again crossing from the right-wing into Chappie. The tall striker again became the provider as he set up McPherson who scored to complete his hat-trick completed in a great ten minute spell. Arsenal hit back and John was called into action and made two more excellent saves. The Gunners launched another attack and forced John into making another great save. But two minutes from time, John made his only mistake of the match when he mispunched a centre and the Gunners scored to reduce the arrears. Just before the final whistle, Currie sped away down the left and cut inside before clipping the ball over the centre-half to Chapman who scored with a right-foot volley.

The Reserves travelled to Bristol City and were surprised to find out at ten minutes notice that the kick-off time had been brought forward to 7pm. The confusion caused resulted in the game kicking-off five minutes late. Due to lack of a sufficient "warm-up" our iads were "cold" for the first 20 minutes or so and this showed as we struggled to find any sort of form and cohesion. After 13 minutes, City took the lead after a period of constant pressure. Seven minutes later we suffered another blow when Malcolm McPherson was involved in a clash of heads and had to go off suffering from concussion. Lee Hodges substituted. Gradually the Hammers got more into the game and Hodges forced a good save from the City 'keeper in the 29th minute. Two minutes later, Trevor Morley took a return pass from Darren Currie and fired a shot narrowly over the bar. The condition of the pitch did not help West Ham's passing game. It was bumpy in places and in others the top surface became badly churned-up. Our one other real chance came seven minutes before the interval when a Currie corner was flicked on at the near post by Lee Chapman before it was finally cleared at the far post by the Bristol City defence.

During the second-half, the Hammers began to exert more pressure and Morley shot just wide following a Currie free-kick. Les Sealey then had to make a good save to deny the home side. In the 63rd minute we drew level when Currie collected the ball on the left and sent over an excellent cross, which Morley headed against the post. The rebound came to David Pratt who scored his second goal of the season.

Six minutes later, the Hammers got a deserved second goal when Kenny Brown broke down the right and sent over a pinpoint cross which Trevor Morley headed home from just beyond the penalty-spot.